(The Dark) Pandora's Box

[Alessandra]

There was a quick shake of her head, “Not really, I never really talked to her or worked with her.” Though the woman always had seemed unhinged.

She was tempted to ask him what his expertise entailed, thinking she probably had him beat in that department. One doesn’t take over and run a successful Mafia family on her looks. But it’d be interesting to see him in work, see if he could back up his claims.

“Oh, I wasn’t thinking a beating would be in order. There are much more creative tools we can use. Every Kindred has a breaking point, and I’m curious as to what our friends is. But perhaps it won’t come to any of that and she’ll simply fold.” Either way worked for the Savage so long as they got what they needed.

While she would feel more comfortable having Alice take the bowing knife, she had concerns. It was much larger than her current one, and she hadn’t worked with Alice on using it. It did a whole hell of a lot more damage, but was heavier and more difficult to maneuver. “I’ll call you when it comes in.” then maybe they could do more sparring, letting Alice get a feel for the cane sword.

“Well, he’s right about them. They might be unorganized at times, but when they come together for something they are a nasty force. But anyways, lets get this started.” She pushes off her car and heads into the warehouse. Before stepping into the door, she heightens her senses, cause you never know.

[Yumyumcrow]

The warehouse is quiet and unassuming. Dark, too, until someone finds the lights.

It is empty. A few crates stand as further disguise.

The basement is the same: dark and empty. A single light bulb illuminates the naked stone. The two bodies had been hidden under a pile of sheets, streaked with paint. Two shrivelled corpses, crude stakes protruding from their chests. Josephine in rags with her face still stained by warpaint; the other in boots, a dress, and a fake fur coat.

Chains and other things dangle from the ceiling. The floor slopes oddly toward one corner. The stench of disinfectant is strong here; it clogs the nose even without the use of Heightened Senses.

[Robert Cross]

Cross moves, quietly, through the warehouse space. Flat, blue eyes drift this way and that as he takes their surroundings in. Everything appears to be in order.

Down in the basement, once the lights are on and their guests properly exposed, Cross examines the two apparent corpses critically, though with a certain detachment. If seeing Sterling in this state bothers him, it doesn't show.

After a while, he turns to Alice and Ale, "You said they were worshipping her, right? Had her set up as some sort of idol?" A nod toward Sterling's unmoving form. "Maybe we can use that. Set them up in opposite ends of the room, work on that one" eyes dart to Fur Coat "by threatening Sterling."

Anyway it's something to consider. The Brood Bitch may not care about harm done to herself. But what would she do to keep her Special Lady Friend from being ashed?

[Robert Cross]

Sorry to post out of order! Just realized that Longstreet and Alice never got in on the last round.

[Alice Hart]

Ale doesn't insist on Alice taking the larger knife, but confirms her cane sword was definitely in the works. Alice gives her Coterie Mate a too-wide-too-fake smile paired with a smooth, strings pulled nod. "I'll wait in breathless anticipation."

The sounds around her change as the foursome head into the warehouse, the scent of the place clogs her nose and Alice's porcelain face scrunches up in diastase. Ick. Luckily the Morlock hadn't yet enhanced her senses. She could only imagine how horrible this place smelt when you could detect every slight divergence and subtle nuance.

"You might need to do more then threaten Stirling." Alice admits, actions mean more then words sometimes. Though Alice wondered if the Ventures former alliances, her devotion to the Second Estate, was effecting Robert's choices now. Alice didn't know if Longstreet even knew that the women who was once Reeve, and Invictus Lady had started out as the picture of devotion to the Covenant he, and her Robert shared.

Alice wants to frown, in her studies she'd discovered Devotions of the Blood, that would have helped in this circumstance, but alas, she hadn't yet convinced Vivian to part ways with the secrets of Majesty.

The Blind Doll keeps herself slightly apart of where the others where speaking, deciding upon which course they would take, Alice hadn't ever done anything like this in her scant years dead, and she most definitely hadn't done anything like this when she was alive.

[Alessandra]

Well, at least the bodies were still here, staked. Though that didn’t mean that the Brood hadn’t scouted the place. Best trap? Not to touch anything and lay in wait.

Was the disinfectant stench always there? Either way it was like a kick in the sinuses.

The hanging chains would help them restrain the two when they pulled the stakes out.

“If memory serves me right, there was some weird looking things drawn on the walls surrounding her. As well as flower petals scattered around the floor, she was also chained to the wall. Then of course was the third eye drawn on her forehead. There were also bodies in the basement where we found her, obviously dead from the stench that came from them. Maybe an offering of some sort, some type of religious observance,” there was a shrug, “But I’m not sure, this isn’t really my field of expertise.” She says to Robert.

Considering his idea, she looks at the bodies, “If we wake either of them up, we need to make sure they are secured. I don’t want to risk the safety of anyone here, we already lost one to the Brood, I don’t want to see it happen again.” And she wasn’t budging on that one. “With how far gone Sterling was, I’m not sure she will talk, or that she can for that matter. We tried to ask her questions, but got nothing. But I’m willing to try again, maybe her nap will have awoken her ability to talk.” Probably not, but you never know with Kindred.

“I’ve always found that incentive works wonders when getting people and Kindred to talk. But I’m willing to try both ways. See I’m not necessarily known for my social graces and kind words, so I’m more of the enforcer type. Willing to get my answers anyway I can. Though perhaps a softer touch will gain more info.” Always best to keep an open mind. She had been ready to ash Sterling when Alice spoke up about using her as bait. So the Reeve knew that her ways were not always the best. “The soles and temples huh? I was gonna pull the damn bitches fangs out one by one. But my more special techniques I’ll save for the surprise.” Yeah, Ale could be cold and heartless. Years of running the Mafia had taught her well.

Looking to Alice, “I agree, she is going to need more than threats. She wasn’t too sane when she was within the Domain, and I doubt time has helped that. If she talks, manipulating her might work, if done right. Or again, an incentive she cannot refuse.”

[Robert Cross]

Cross gives Longstreet an approving nod when he details his approach. He'd been a cop in LA for a long time. None of this is surprising. But it's good the other Haunt knows his stuff.

To Alice now: "Yes. Start with threats, then move on to promises. Finally, action." Ale's description of the scene where they found Sterling seems to confirm her value. "And if they were venerating Sterling. Using up valuable resources," in other words, blood, "to support her, maybe threatening her well-being will be enough. If not..." His shrug is audible in the way he trails off.

The Burned Man listens closely to the Reeve's words.

"I wouldn't suggest bringing them back at the same time. I was thinking we could keep Sterling on ice while we go at the other one. Our threats will hold even more water if it's clear that Josephine can't fight back."

Cross looks at the chains, wondering how many they should use to make sure Brood Bitch is properly secured. He reaches up to pull on one, testing to see if they can be uncoupled from the ceiling. "And if she" another nod to fur coat "doesn't care about Sterling. Well then, get out your pliers and start pulling teeth."

Something about the way Cross discusses the whole thing, his pragmatic, distanced, tone would no doubt prove disturbing, if his audience weren't monsters themselves.

"But it's your call," he says to Alessandra, deferring to the Reeve.

[Alice Hart]

Alice's smooth inhuman nod reinforces what the Reeves says about just how the Brood had propped up the venture. Though Alice knows there's not a whole lot she could add for what they'd found visually, "There was incense, not sage but something similar. They kept her in a statuary, they'd...sanctified her."

From her place Alice hears the sounds of chains being tested. "Make sure Julia has sight lines on Sterling. Most, if not all of the chains should be used. Prepare for frenzy...and I don't know if either knows vigor....but I'd rather not risk one or both of them escaping due to an oversight."

Then knowing she wont be any help with the interrogation, the Blind Haunt makes a decision.

"I'll keep..heh-watch. Maybe I'll be able to tell if the Brood's barreling down on us."

Focusing her will, she sharpens her hearing to an inhuman degree and moves towards where'd they'd entered.

  2 suxx perception

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2017-04-21 13:26:07		Alice Hart rolls 4 to Perception (Wits 3 + Composure 3 -2) (10 Again)		6, 10, 3, 6, 8		2 successes